Three Families, Three Options

Zhang Baichi gave the Jian Fu a strange look. "The sect's internal workings? Is there a need for me to know?"

The old man cracked a smile and nodded. "Of course. Everyone needs to understand the fundamental structure of the sect once they join the Inner Sect. I'm just telling you a bit early, that's all."

Zhang Baichi couldn't help but feel that something wasn't right with that. He wasn't an Inner Disciple, nor was he close to becoming one. He was just incarcerated for fighting the Law Enforcement Division and was suspected to be a spy, yet the Elder wants to tell him about the inner workings of the sect?

These thoughts weighing down on Zhang Baichi's mind were clear for the old man to see and he shook his head. "Don't worry about the allegations. I've checked for myself and know that you're no spy. You're free to go after our talk. Yu Hao and his men acted upon their own violation, so they're in the wrong in this matter."

"Thank you, Senior… but that still doesn't explain why you want me to know about the inner workings of the sect.", Zhang Baichi was still confused as the old man's intentions weren't clear to him, to which the old man once again shook his head. "I value you very highly, kid. So, I want to help you."

"…That's it?", Zhang Baichi questioned.

The old man replied in kind. "That's it."

"Alright… I'll hear you out.", seeing as there was no way to speak against him, Zhang Baichi decided to listen and looked at the old man.

"Good. As I said, there's three great families in our sect. The Ji family, the Lu family, and my Jian family. Currently, the sect is lead by my Jian family with my younger brother at the head. That isn't important for your situation, though.", the old man paused to look at Zhang Baichi before he continued. "The important thing is, that Ji Jian is the successor chosen by the Ji family's head."

Zhang Baichi's expression fell. He understood what the old man was implying and voiced his opinion. "There's no way a great family like them would allow their successor to lose to a nobody. That match I'm supposed to have in two months was impossible for me to win from the start?"

"You're quick-witted. That's good.", the old man nodded his head. "Yes, you will lose that battle, no matter what. Ji Jian will defeat you, most likely kill you and claim the supposed inheritance of the Martial Emperor for the Ji family, raising their prestige to the point where they can put Ji Jian up to become the next Sect Master."

"What about the Lu family?", Zhang Baichi questioned. The Jian family was one thing, but why would Lu Hao move against him if it only benefitted the Ji family? The old man shook his head. "The Lu and Ji families must have come to an agreement. If they didn't, the Lu family would've been the first to make a move against you. They are quite direct in their dealings."

"Quite direct, huh?", scoffing, Zhang Baichi looked at the old man. "You asked about the poison earlier, didn't you? The one who gave that to me was Lu Hao. He gave me a vial of poisoned blood pills and encouraged me to do my best in my fight against Ji Jian."

"…That kid made such a move? Lu Hao was never one to scheme against another. He always dared to come at anyone up front, just like his father.", the old man frowned, a confused expression on his face. "I'll investigate. Don't worry. If he really tried to poison you, I'll make sure he gets punished."

Zhang Baichi nodded. "Never mind that, what do I do about Ji Jian? Since they won't let me win, I can only lose. And that might be my death. There's no way I can accept that."

"I have a few ways for you to get out of that.", the old man held up two fingers. "One. You can leave the sect. I'll help you get away and you can live an ordinary life somewhere else. Two. Join my Law Enforcement Division. I'll sent you out on a mission when the time for the duel draws near and you can let things die down before returning."

A disgruntled expression hung on Zhang Baichi's face. "My only options are to run away? Is there no other way? I'm confident that I can become strong enough to defeat Ji Jian within two months. Even if he reaches the Qi Condensation Realm, I'll still fight him with confidence."

If possible, Zhang Baichi really didn't want to run away as that would mean being hunted down by the Ji family, possibly for the rest of his live. Although fighting the Ji family wasn't possible with his current strength, he would just need to survive against Ji Jian and the family's hands would be tied as long as he remained in the sect.

The old man smiled raised another finger. "That's number three. Follow me up the mountain to meet my brother. If you can pass his tests, you can become his disciple. Then you can beat Ji Jian up to your heart's content. Your standing in the sect would be higher than Lu Hao or Ji Jian, and their families wouldn't dare lay a hand on you as long as my brother is around."

"And if I fail the test?", Zhang Baichi asked for the worst-case scenario, since he didn't know what kind of test would await him. He had the Black Heaven Scripture and the Fractured Star Sword Technique, so he was confident that he wasn't lacking behind any of his peers – as long as his realm of cultivation was excluded.

"Then you can only choose one of the other options.", Jian Fu spoke with a calm expression. Zhang Baichi didn't need time to think about this and nodded his head. "Good. Then, what will the test be?"

"I don't know.", the old shook his head. "He just told me that, if I find someone who I think could make it in the sect, to inform him and let him test that person himself."

The old man sounded mysterious, but to Zhang Baichi it looked like he was just… just a kind old man being taken advantage of. 'This Sect Master… can he be trusted?'

Zhang Baichi felt a light headache coming, but since he had already agreed, he would follow through with it. Moreover, the other options were running away, which weren't options to begin with! "When do we leave?"

"In three days. You were already investigated and an Elder even showed their face in the Outer Sect, so no one will dare to cause trouble for you in those three days. Go to your cottage and prepare yourself. Make sure you're in peak condition, mentally and physically, and I'll come fetch you when it's time.", the old man said with a smile.

He decisively stood up and lead Zhang Baichi out of the underground prison, then send him on his way. Zhang Baichi returned to his cottage – the weird symbols of light having vanished already – and stood inside with a confused expression.

"He… just threw me out as soon as I agreed to the test? Don't tell me I was tricked…", scratching his head, he couldn't help but feel like he had been played. The old man's decisive behaviour was just too unlike what Zhang Baichi had seen of him before. 'Still, he told me about this Martial Emperor Physique, at least….'

He raised his head and suddenly thought of the system again. 'Right, system, what do you know bout Special Constitutions? Is there any way I can learn about them?'

[Ding! Special Constitution are innate powers that allow cultivators to excel in certain areas. Some allow the possessor to have an especially high attainment in certain elements, while others can grant the possessor unusually strong bodies or highly dense Qi.]

'…So you basically know nothing beside what the old man said. Great.', Zhang Baichi sighed and rubbed his temple in frustration. 'Can you at least confirm what he said about the Martial Emperor Physique? Do I have that Special Constitution?'

[Ding! Hosts constitution does indeed match parts of the Martial Emperor Physique. However, the Martial Emperor Physique does not explain all of Hosts' characteristics.]

'What do you mean?', he frowned. It didn't meet all characteristics? Did he have another Special Constitution altogether or maybe even multiple at the same time?

[Ding! The Special Constitution that Host possesses affects Hosts' comprehension ability as well as your combat talent. Hosts' physical body is also much stronger than regular cultivators.]

'Comprehension ability as well? And my body is stronger than usual? Isn't that because of the Black Heaven Qi?', Zhang Baichi was doubtful. The system said his comprehension ability was increased thanks to his Special Constitution. Wasn't that saying that he was dumb before…?